3 more people claim they were assaulted by Springfield firefighter Eddie Rivera

Springfield Police Department photoSpringfield firefighter Eddie Rivera has been charged with three counts of rape of a child with force, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a knife), three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child and two counts of furnishing liquor to a minor.

SPRINGFIELD - Since Springfield firefighter Eddie Rivera's arrest Sunday on child rape and other charges, three other people have come forward, including a 24-year-old man who told police he was sexually assaulted by Rivera in Springfield 10 years ago, police said.

The 33-year-old Rivera has been a Springfield firefighter for 11 years.

Rivera, of 157 Merrimac St., was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 cash bail Monday following his arraignment in Springfield District Court.

Court documents state Rivera handcuffed a juvenile during a sleep over at his home, shortly after midnight Sunday and repeatedly raped him.

After the assaults Rivera ordered the youth into the shower and cleaned him, according to court documents.

Police have said the juvenile is 14-years-old. Court documents state during his interview with police later that day the youth "was shaking in fear."

Rivera is also accused of stabbing a relative of the teen-ager and committing a crime against another youth last month.

Court documents state that latter incident occurred Sept. 12 or 19 at the firefighter's home when the youth was in Rivera's bed with Rivera and a 19-year-old man who lived there as well.

Rivera reached over and put his hand on the youth's stomach and the youth then left the room, according to court documents.

That youth told police that Rivera gave him a shot of clear alcohol in a green bottle earlier in the evening. Rivera also gave the youth's 18-year-old brother a shot of the same alcohol, court documents state.

Court documents state police requested a high bail for Rivera because he clearly poses a danger to his neighborhood.

"His close proximity to the victims have put them and their families in fear for their safety and possible retribution from Rivera," court documents state.

Rivera is a Springfield who has at 157 Merrimac St. for two months, according to court documents.

The police department's newly-formed special victims unit continues to investigate the case.

Lt. Cheryl C. Claprood, a member of the unit, said she believes more people will step forward saying that they are victims, too.

The 24-year-old alleged victim now lives out of state, and Springfield police advised him to pursue charges against Rivera with his local police department.

"We will work with that department," Claprood said.

Rivera has pleaded innocent to three counts of rape of a child with force, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (a knife), three counts of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 and two counts of furnishing liquor to a minor.

According to court documents all three charges of rape of a child with force and two of the three charges of indecent assault and battery on a person over 14 pertain to the youth involved in Sunday's incident.

The assault and battery charge with a dangerous weapon pertains to the stabbing of a relative of the youth later Sunday when that relative, joined by other family members, went to confront Rivera at his home.

A third indecent assault and battery charge on a person over 14 and the two charges of furnishing liquor to a minor are not dated in court documents.

Claprood said police are still investigating the statements made by two neighborhood youths who came forward after his arrest and said they had been sexually assaulted. No charges pertaining to those two allegations have been filed, she said.

Asked if additional arrests may be pending, Claprood said, "Not at this time."

A pre-trial hearing for Rivera has been scheduled for Oct. 20.

During their investigation into Rivera, police seized a number of items including 22 photographs, e-mail photographs, a handcuff key, several articles of clothing and a bottle of gin, according to court documents.

Springfield Fire Department spokesman Dennis G. Leger said the department considers Rivera absent without leave and is not paying the firefighter. He said Rivera has been was assigned to Engine 8, which operates out of the Mason Square fire station.

The fire commissioner's office has been in contact with the Springfield Law Department regarding Rivera, Leger said.